Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-05-18
End oreI,c Debt Conference.

RICHMOND, May 1S.-The conference Oh
the legislative committee with Sir Edward
Thornton and Mr.. S. n. Braithwaiie, repre-
9entatives CT the Council Of Foreign Bono
holders, closed night before last, ana yes
terday the legislative committee made their
report to the General Assembly announcing
that the negotiations had failed, Tor The rea-
sons heretofore given. The report Is very
long, and gives in detail the proposition
made by the State TO the representatives OF
the Council Of Foreign Bondholder3 i'll re
Spouse TO their utimatum, and states the
reasons why it was impossible for tho State
to accede 10 the demands. The report,
with the tables accompanying il, when pub
lished, will make book of $50 pages.
The report of the legislative committee
was presented TO the House of Delegates
Yesterday by Speaker Stuart and was adopt
cd and ordered to be printed. It was then
sent to the Senate, where, upon reading it,
it was found that one of the tables was not
appended. Thereupon the report was re-
committed The committee soon repaired
the omission and the report will have again
to be presented to the Senate to-day.
At the caucus of the democratic members
of the General Assembly, held last night,
the following resolution WAS unanimously
adopted
Received, That the bills aud resolutions relat
ing to the State debt which may be reported from
the Joint committee appointed to consider the
same be given priority over all other legislation,
aud that the General Assembly will not adjourn
until uch legislation has been perfected.
There was an informal talk or the const-
lutional amendment, Mr. Rhea strongly
advocating it and Mr.. A. Patterson, OF
Washington county, opposing it. The sen
tmant seemed to be rather in favor OF ii,
but the caucus took no action one way or
another.
Mr.. Rhea's proposed amendment TO the
| constitution 10 compel the bondholders TO
| fund in RiddIeDerger bonds within certain
time, or lose their principal. was discussed
| in The Senate, when Mr.. Rhea disclaimed
| that it was Reputation. 1t gave the bond
| holders certain time TO fund; if they do
| not fund within that time the responsibility
rests upon them. He said: The time IS
coming when the people will give expires
sion TO their will to repudiate the entire
debt of this State, and thea asserted that the
question could not get into the federal
courts.
Mr.. Wickham said he had gone just as far
as he intends to go F; was opposed 10 repudi
alton, and would not Cast a blot upon the
fair name Of Virginia by declarations that
hereafter we will repudate her debt.
trust that there are enough members in this
House TO vote down this bill" Tbs vote
on the amendment will he taken to-day.
In the House of Delegates Mr. Barbour
read the following, which will he acted upon
| to day
Whereas in any equitable apportonment of the
anti-war debt of Virginia. between the Govern
| ments of Virginia West Virginia and the United
States the sevcrest demand on Virginia could not
reach the amount of 100000, principal debt,
at the time when the State of Virginia was divi-
ded into two States; aud whereas the State OF Nlr-
ginia, while enduring desoIation, distress ana
harrasiment. has paid since the 81 st day of April,
1861, more than $50, 00OO 600 on account OF the
public debt, and has other u5t aud equitable rea-
sons for expecting the cooperation of the Govern
ment of the United States i'll the discharge Of
whatever may have been Justly due to the credi-
tors Of Virginia when the territory of Virginia
was divided into two States, aud in the relief Of
this Commonwealth from any complaint or ap
pearance of repudiatng single just demand Of
any creditor of the State of Virginia therefore,
be it
Resolved (the Senate cOncurring), That our
Senators in the Congress Of tho United States be
instructed and our Representatives be requested
TO use their best enlelvOr5 to obtain such Con
gressonal action as will secure for the credit0rJ
OF Virginia their right dues and, at the same time
will relieve this Commonwealth from any more
vexatous claims for any payments in addition to
these already so generously made on account of
the alleged public debt of Virginia.